Ramaphosa and Zuma in ‘direct discussions’, to report back to party and country later

Following uncertainty after last night’s special NEC meeting of the ANC was postponed, party president Cyril Ramaphosa has sought to alleviate “speculation and anxiety” in a statement sent a short while ago.

“There has been a lot of speculation and anxiety about the position of President Jacob Zuma as the head of state and government of our country,” said Ramaphosa.

In clarifying “some matters in this regard”, Ramaphosa confirmed that, last night, he “began direct discussions on the transition and matters relating to his [Zuma] position as the President of the Republic”.

“The discussions were constructive and lay the basis for a speedy resolution of the matter in the interests of the country and its people,” the statement continued.

Based on “progress made, it was agreed to postpone a special meeting of the ANC national executive committee that had been scheduled for later today”.

“This will enable President Zuma and myself to conclude our discussions and report back to our organisation and the country in the coming days.”

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“I am aware that the uncertainty surrounding the position of the Head of State and Government is a cause for concern among many South Africans. This is understandable. However, I am certain that the process we have now embarked on will achieve an outcome that not only addresses these concerns, but also unites our people around the tasks that all of us must necessarily undertake to build our country.

“We will be able to communicate further on President Zuma’s position as President of the Republic once we have finalised all pertinent matters,” said Ramaphosa.

He said while the current situation had necessitated the postponement until further notice of the state of the nation address, “the work of government and Parliament will continue”.

“This is a challenging time for our country. Both President Zuma and myself are aware that our people want and deserve closure.

“The constructive process we have embarked on offers the greatest opportunity to conclude this matter without discord or division. Throughout this process, I am guided by the principle that the interests and needs of the South African people are paramount,” the statement concluded.